Thomas Tuchel made a profitable begin to life as England coach with a 2-0 victory in opposition to Albania in 2026 World Cup qualifying on Friday, whereas Robert Lewandowski handed Poland a slim win over Lithuania.
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Targets in both half from debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly and captain Harry Kane had been sufficient to get England over the road as they started their qualification marketing campaign for the following World Cup, which can happen within the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Since taking up the reins from Gareth Southgate in January, Tuchel promised a extra vibrant England facet however there have been only some fleeting examples of that in an uninspiring but environment friendly win at Wembley.
“We can do better, we have to do better. We started well, we had seven-eight minutes with 100 percent ball possession with a lot of passes and high energy,” mentioned a vital Tuchel.
“Second half, I felt we were too slow and in general not enough runs off the ball to get behind the line.”
The 51-year-old German described managing England at Wembley for the primary time as a “very new experience”, including: “Myles Lewis-Skelly debuts with me on the pitch, so I am not all alone.”
Lewis-Skelly, aged 18 years and 176 days, grew to become the youngest participant to attain on his England debut when he slid a composed end by means of the legs of goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha on 20 minutes, following a chic through-ball by Jude Bellingham.
“I’m lost for words really. I’m just so grateful to the manager for putting trust in me,” mentioned the Arsenal teenager.
The opposite second of inspiration within the match got here with 13 minutes remaining as Kane magnificently plucked a deep Declan Rice cross out of the air on the again submit and slotted the ball into the far nook.
Elsewhere on the opening matchday of European qualifying, Poland edged a 1-0 win in opposition to Lithuania in Warsaw.
Barcelona striker Lewandowski fired house from the sting of the field within the 81st minute to offer Michal Probierz’s facet a profitable begin in Group G.
Finland overcame Malta by the identical scoreline because of a first-half aim by Oliver Antman, with the hosts ending a participant down after Maltese defender Kurt Shaw was dismissed.
Cyprus high Group H because of a 2-0 house victory over San Marino, whereas Bosnia and Hercegovina received 1-0 in Romania.
In England’s Group Okay, Latvia additionally acquired underway with a win, beating Andorra 1-0.
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